Why neglect SMEs in the distribution of special financial assistance? Sarawak DAP chief asks the state government

KUCHING, April 17 2026: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen (picture)has accused the state government of neglecting the business community in the distribution of the special financial assistance announced by Premier Abang Johari Openg yesterday. 

He said welcomes the discount for rental of hawkers and traders operating in markets and stalls owned by local authorities and the 50 per cent rental discount to the tenants of properties owned by the state government-linked companies.

However,  he said 99.9 per cent of the small-medium enterprises (SMEs) do no benefit from any rental discount.

“The government must recognise the importance of business sector to our state’s economy and general well-being of the employees.  

“In light of the sudden sharp increase in the costs of logistics and supplies, the state should provide financial assistance to the SMEs in our state,” Chong said.

He noted that recently, the federal Minister for Entrepreneur and Co-operatives Development Steven Sim has announced the low-cost business financing amounting to RM15 billion, an increase of RM5 billion from the initial RM10 billion.

He added the federal government has also allocated RM15 billion in 2026 to fund the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahma.h (SARA).

“ In addition, the federal government has also increased the petrol and diesel subsidy from RM700 million per month to the escalated figure of RM4,000 million per month (an increase of approximately RM3 billion per month).

“Despite the tens of billions allocated by the federal government, it is still insufficient to help many local SMEs to tide over this difficult time.

“ With the more-than-RM10 billion annual revenue of the Sarawak government (likely to be more as oil prices has shot up), we expect more to be done than what was announced yesterday,” Chong, who is also Stampin Member of Parliament, said.